"THE THICK END OF THE STICK."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 9

"THE THICK END OF THE STICK."

■ ME."W. H. FIELD'S VIEWS. "I think it is a fair thing for North Island members to stick together in this matter of railway expenditure, it it is only to see that, the North Island gets fair play. At present the. Government is'pledged to carry the' Midland Railway as far as Inangahua, but I do not think that the section between Inangahua arid' Murchison should bo gone on with. That line could wait for many-years, and ought to stand over." "It has.been suggested," said the reporter, "that the Government should close • down the Midland Railway works." .. "As for that, I approve of the line, and.the tunnel, now they are so far ahead with it," replied Mr. Field. "I can see the lino being-of great , value in time of war.! Tho coal-mines are well sway from the seaboard, and the whole of the South Island could be supplier!, without taking tho risk of sending cargoes by sea. .

"I had not seen the West Coast until I went down there with the Timber Commission last year, and had no idea there was so much land fit for farming purposes. I don't say it is first-class land; but there is a fine strip of fair average farming country between the mountains and the sea. I have thought for some timo that in railway matters the South Island had the big end of tho stick. ■ It was quite noticeable to anybody travelling over tho lines that the railway stations were superior to those in. the North Island. Then look at tho branch lines they have —we havo practically none. A number of branch lines are badly wanted in the North Island, apart from main lines. . There is the Lovin-Foxton-Greatford lino, that would open up a big area of absolutely flat first-class agricultural country, and would at the

same tirao shorten the journey between Wellington and Auckland by an hour. The lino would also reduce the congestion at tho Palntorston North station, which is likely to grow, though tho station and yards arb insufficient for present requirements. I should say, too, that tho" extension of the Gisborne lino is a'pressing work, as it will open up a vast territory of good, well-tim-bered land."